Cleaning and lighting apparatus for knitting machine

ABSTRACT

A knitting machine having a rotatable part is provided with an axially extending conduit positioned in substantial alignment with the axis of rotation of said rotating part and extending therethrough. The conduit is provided with a cable channel and a separate air passage. A rotary joint is mounted on said conduit for rotation about said axis of rotation, said mounting permitting selective axial displacement of said rotary joint along said conduit to one end thereof for the removal of said rotary joint therefrom. Electrical cable passes through said cable channel to a lamp releasably mounted on the conduit at said one end thereof. The rotary joint is mounted in registration with an opening in said conduit providing communication between the air passage in the conduit and an air passage in the rotary joint for directing air under pressure to the portions of the machine to be cleaned.

United States Patent Heinrichs Jan. 8, 1974 OTHER PUBLICATIONS 1,061,943 7-1959 German Application (Engezfried) [75] Inventor: Roland P. I-Ieinrichs, Lindenhurst,

Primary ExaminerJames Kee Chi [73] Assignee: lbllni wave, lnc., Farmlngdale, A tlorney-BlumyMoscovitz, Friedman & Kaplan 22 Filed July 27, 1972 ABSTRACT [2]] Appl. No.: 275,597

A kmttmg machine having a rotatable part 15 provided with an axially extending conduit positioned in sub- U-S- Cl. 6 1 R tantia] alignment the axis rotation of said r- II!- CI- tating part and extending therethrough The conduit is Fleld of Search R, a'cable channel and a eparate air pas- 139/1 C, 1 B; 57/56 sage. A rotary joint is mounted on said conduit for rotation about said axis of rotation, said mounting perl References Cited mitting selective axial displacement of said rotary joint UNITED STATES PATENTS along said conduit to one end thereof for the removal 3,269,151 8/1966 Abrams et '61. 66/168 f Said fy joint therefrom Electrical Cable Passes 2,422,514 6/1947 Allen 66/168 through 831d Cable Channel 10 a p releasably 2,456,160 12/1948 Violandi 66/] R mounted on the conduit at said one end thereof. The 2,357,714 9/1944 Vossen et a1. 66/l68 rotary joint is mounted in registration with an opening 3,274,803 9/1966 schmldt 3 in said conduit providing communication between the 2 2 8 8/1958 66/168 air passage in the conduit and an air passage in the ro- 2,g3g,923 7/1943 Allred /316 y joint for directing i under pressure to the P 09 4/1960 l-lanzl et al 66/163 X tions of the machine to be cleaned.

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 65,623 2/1969 East Germany ..66/168 14 Clam, 5 Draw l 34 r ae38 56 x {*2 l; 66 1 1 48 Z6 l 22 26 I] I l I 6 :e Z4 5 20 28 PATENIEUJAN 81974 3.783.648

sum 3 or 4 FIG. 4 65 65 62 PAIENTEDJAN 8|974 I 3. 783 .648

saw u or 4 FIG. 5

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to knitting machines, and in particular, to knitting machines of the rotary type. In order to prevent the accumulation of dust, lint and other foreign particles in suchmachinery, various de-" vices have been proposed for cleaning vital parts, such as the needles,-sinkers, and carriers of such knitting machines, the most successful of these devices being based on the application of air under pressure to the parts to be cleaned to dislodge foreign particles. One example of such a device is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,269,151, issued on Aug. 30, I966 to Abraham Abrams and Roland L. Tetrault, assigned to the assignee hereof. This patent teaches the provision of a rotary joint mounted at the end of a conduit for delivering air under pressure to said rotary joint, the rotary joint being provided with air passages for directing the air under pressure to the parts of the knitting machine to be cleaned. One difficulty with this cleaning apparatus is that at least one rotary joint is mounted below the needle cylinder and dial of the knitting machine, and positioning of the air conduit and rotary joint in certain knitting machines requires substantial disassembly of the machine or the provision of relatively large axial bores through which the rotary valve may be inserted.

Another feature of circular knitting machines is the provision of a light source below the needle cylinder and dial within the tubular fabric produced by the knitting machine. By viewing the light source through the fabric, it is possible to identify flaws in'the fabric. The

mounting of this light source and. the passing of the required electrical cable to said light source has alsoposed problems in the existing knitting machines.

The cleaning and lighting apparatus in accordance with the invention overcomes the foregoing deficiencies in the prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Generally speaking, in accordance with the invention, an apparatus for cleaning a knitting machine having a part rotatable about an axis comprising air conduit'means mounted on said knitting machine in substantial alignment with the axis of rotation of'said rotatable part. Means are provided for applying air under pressure to said conduit means on one side of said rotatable part. A rotary joint formed with an air passage therethrough for directing air under pressure to portions of the machine to be cleaned. is rotatably mounted on said conduit means with the air passage thereof in registration with an opening in said conduit for the flow of air under pressure from said conduit means to said rotary joint air passage, said rotary joint being mounted on the other side of said rotatable part. Means is provided on said conduit means for releasably retaining said rotary joint on said conduit means, so that said ro-. tary joint may be selectively axially displaced along said conduit means for removal therefrom.

The conduit means may be provided with a cable channel and a separate air passage, cable means extending through said cable channel from said one side of said rotatable part to the other side thereof and lamp means releasably mounted on the end of said conduit i'neans on said other side of said rotatable part and operably coupled to said cable means. A further lamp means may be mounted on the end of said conduit means on said one side of said rotatable part,

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a cleaning apparatus for knitting machines which will permit the rapid mounting and dismounting thereof from said knitting machine.

Another object of the invention is to provide, in a single apparatus, both means for cleaning knitting machines and lamp means disposed within the tubular fabric produced by said knitting machine.

Another object of the invention is to provide a single apparatus readily mountable on and dismountable from a knitting machine which provides cleaning devices therefor, as well as. inspection and signaling lamp devices. I

Still other objects and advantages of the invention will in part be obviousand will in part be apparent from the specification and drawings.

The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrange ment'of parts which will be exemplified inthe constructions hereinafter set forth, and the scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS For a fuller understanding of the invention, reference is had to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic side elevational view of a knitting machine having the cleaning and lighting apparatus in accordance with the invention mounted thereon; y

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along lines 22 of FIG. 1;

FIGS..3 and 4 are sectional views taken along lines 3.3 and 44, respectively, of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view of the region of the needles of the knitting machine of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to FIG. 1, the rotaryknittingmachi'ne dia-. grammatically depicted therein includes a support plate 12 connected via uprights 1410 a base 16 supported by legs 18. Upwardly extending from plate 12 are rods 20, which fixedly support a bobbin carrier 22. A plurality of radially extending arms 24 project from bobbin carrier22, a yarn bobbin 26 being mounted on the end of each of said arms. Yarn guides 28 are also mounted on bobbin carrier 22.

Further rods 30 extend upwardly from said bobbin carrier and support an intermediate yarn guide ring 32 and an upper yarn guide ring 34', each of said yarn guide rings having a plurality of yarn guides 36 and 38, respectively, mounted thereon. A knitting assembly 40 is mounted on support plate 12, said knitting assembly joint 50, a lower rotary'joint 52 and a fabric illuminat ing lamp 54 all mounted on a lower conduit 56, as well as an upper conduit 58 having a signaling lamp 60 mounted thereon.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, wherein the input coupling and upper rotary joint are more particularly shown, it is seen that lower conduit 56 consists of an outer pipe 62 and an inner pipe 64 concentrically supported. Inner pipe 64 defines a central cable channel 66 while the space between said inner and outer pipes defines an air passage 68. As shown in FIG. 3, the upper end of inner pipe 64 projects beyond the upper end of outer pipe 62 and is formed with a threaded portion 70. Threaded on said threaded portion is an end tube member 72 formed with an axial bore therethrough. Said axial bore defines three separate sections, a first section 74 dimensioned and threaded to mate with the threaded portions 70 if inner pipe 64, a second portion 76 of larger diameter than the outer diameter of said inner'pipe to define an air passage 78 therewith, and a third portion 80 of still larger diameter defining a socket for receiving the end of outer pipe 62. Air passage 78 communicates with air passage 68. An annular groove 82 is formed in the wall of bore section 80 for receiving an O-ring 84 providing an air-tight seal between outer pipe 62 and the lower end of end tube member 72.

The outer surface of end tube member 72 is formed, at the upper end thereof with a region 86 of reduced diameter and a circumferential groove 88 spaced from said region. Further, said end tube member is formed with a circumferential step 90 at the lower end thereof. An axially extending bore 92 interconnects circumferential groove 88 and region 86 of said end tube member.

Also threaded on threaded portion 70 of inner pipe 64 is housing 94'of input coupling 48. Housing 94 is also formedwith an axial bore therethrough formed with a number of sections. The uppermost section 96 is threaded for receiving and retaining the end of upper conduit 58 which defines a cable channel. Section 96 communicates with section 98 which defines the end of a radially extending bore 100, which also forms a cable channel. A portion of radial bore 100 is threaded for receipt of a-cable connecting pipe 102 through which is passed the electrical cables to drive signaling lamp 60 and lamp 54. Thus, cables 104 and 106 pass through pipe 102 and extend upwardly through upper conduit 58 to signaling lamp 60. Said signaling lamp may be' machine. A second pair of cables 108 and 110 extend downwardly through cable channel 66 to lamp 54. The third section of the axial bore in housing 94 is section 112 which is threaded and dimensioned to engage the threaded portion 70 of inner pipe 64. The fourth section of said axial bore is section 114 which is of increased diameter for receiving the end of end tube member 72, and in particular, for receipt of surface 86 of said end tube member. A circumferential groove 116 is formed in section 114 of said axial bore for receipt of an O-ring 118 for providing sealing engagement between housing 94 and end tube member 72. The last section of said axial bore is section 120 which is of further increased diameter, being dimensioned to receive the outer surface 122 of end tube member 72. The intersection between sections 120 and 114 of said housing axial bore defines a laterally extending wall 124 spaced from the lateral wall 126 defining the intersection between region 86 and surface 122 of end tube member 72. The region between said lateral walls defines a circumferential air channel 128, axial bore 92 providing communication between said air channel and circumferential channel 88 in said end tube member. Said en'd tube member is also formed with a lateral bore 130 providing communication between circumferential channel 128 and air passage 78. Section 120 of said housing axial bore is also formed with a circumferential groove 132 for receiving an O-ring 134-.providing an air-tight seal between said housing and said end tube member, O-rings 134 and 118 being positioned oneither side of circumferential air channel 128'.

Housing 94 is formed with a second lateral bore having a first threaded section 136 for receiving an air delivery pipe 138 preferably connected to a source of air under pressure. Said second lateral bore has a second section 140 of lesser diameter providing communication between said first section and circumferential channel 128.

Upper rotary joint 50 is rotatably mounted on end tube member 72 in the region of surface 122 thereof. Said upper rotary joint consists of a housing 142 having an axial bore 144 dimensioned for clearance from surface 122 of end tube member 72. Housing 142 supports a pair of bearings 146 positioned on each end thereof for rotatably supporting rotary joint 50 on surface 122 of said end tube member. Housing 142 is formed with a radial bore 148 positioned in registration with circumferential groove 88 in said end tube member, a portion 150 of said lateral bore being threaded for receipt of a air delivery pipe 152 which is connected to one or more nozzles for directing air under pressure to the portions of the knitting machine to be cleaned. Rotary joint 50 may be provided with more than one of said lateral bores so that a plurality of said air delivery pipes may be mounted thereon.

Housing 142 is also formed with a threaded recess 154 for receiving a dog 156. As shown in FIG! 1, dog 156 is coupled by rod 158 to a rotatable portion of the knitting assembly 40. By this arrangement, rotary joint 50 is rotated in response to the operation of the knitting machine so that the nozzles (not shown) at the end of air delivery pipe 152 scan along all of the elements located circumferentially about the path thereof. For example, such nozzles would be directed to point at the yarn cones, tension tapes and other accessories at the top of the machine.

The surface of bore 144 of housing 142 is formed with a pair of circumferential grooves 160in each of which is positioned an O-ring 162, said grooves and 0- rings being positioned one on each side of lateral bore 148for sealing engagement against surface 122 of the end tube member. i

In operation, air under pressure is applied through air delivery pipe 138 inthe direction of arrow 164 into circumferential air channel 128. From circumferential air channel 128 the air passes through lateral bore 130 in end tube member 72 into air passage 78, and from air passage 78 to air passage 68. Further, the air under pressure passes from circumferential channel 128 through axial bore 92 in said end tube member to cirdepicted in FIGS. 2 and 4. As more particularly shown in FIG. 4 the lower end of inner tube 64 is also formed with a threaded portion 168 which receives a lower end tube member 170. Lower end tube member 170 is formed with an axial bore having a first threaded section 172 for mating engagement with portion 168 of inner pipe 164, a middle smooth-walled section 174 and a lower threaded section 176 of increased diameter. Bore section 174 communicates with and constitutes an extension of cable channel 66. The outer peripheral surface of lower end tube member 170 is formed with a first portion 178 dimensioned for air tight receipt within the end of outer pipe 62, the end of said outer pipe resting against circumferentially extending lateral wall 180. The next section of the outer peipheral wall of said lower end tube member is section 182 of increased diameter having a recess 184 formed therein for receipt of a tool to permit theapplication of leverage to said end tube member for-the removal and insertion thereof. The next section of said peripheral surface is section 184 which is of slightly smaller diameter, defining a step 186 with section 182. A circumferential channel 188 is formed in peripheral wall section 184, said lower end tube member being formed with an axial bore 190 providing communication between air passage 68 and said circumferential channel. Lower r tary joint 52 is rotatably mounted on lower end tube member 170 and is formed with a housing 192. Housing 192 is formed with an axial bore 194 dimensioned to receive peripheral wall section 184, a pair of circumferential grooves 196 being formed in spaced relation in the wall of said axial bore on opposed sides of circumferential channel 188. An- O-ring 198 is received within each of said peripheral grooves 196 for providing an air-tight seal between housing 192 and lower end tube member 170. Housing 192 also carries a pair of bearings 200 for rotatably mounting said rotary joint on peripheral surface section 184.

Housing-192 is also formed with a laterally extending bore 202 in registration with circumferential channel 188 and having a threaded portion 204 for receiving an air delivery pipe 206. Suitable nozzles would be mounted on air delivery pipe 206, and a plurality of such lateral bores could be provided if desired. The nozzles coupled to air delivery pipe 206 would direct air under pressure through the needles of the knitting assembly 40 from inside the machine to theoutside thereof. v

Lower rotary joint 52 is seated against step 186 at its upper end and is retained in position by a retaining member 208 consisting of a first threaded portion 210 for engagement with threaded segment 176 of the axial bore through lower end tube member 170,'a laterally extending flange portion 212 and a second threaded portion 214 on the opposite side of said flange portion from said first threaded portion. Retaining member 208 is formed with an axial bore 216 therethrough connecting to axial bore 174 and defining a continuation of cable channel 66. The flange portion 212 of retaining member 208 serves to retain lower rotary joint 52 in its operative position. However, said lower rotary joint may be removed downwardly by merely unscrewing re taining member 208 and axially displacing said rotary joint off the lower end of lower end tube member 170. When this is done, the entire lower conduit 56 may be removed upwardly from its fixed mounting in knitting machine 10 without disturbing the other components of said knitting machine.

Air under pressure from air passage 68 passes through axial bore 190 in lower end tube member 170 to circumferential channel 188, and from said circumferential channel is applied to lateral bores 202 and 204 for distribution to air delivery pipe 206 in the direction of arrow 216. Housing 192 is also formed with a lateral bore 220 which receives dog 222. Dog 222 is coupled to a rotating portion of knitting assembly 40 by rod 224 so that rotary joint 52 is driven in response to the operation of the knitting machine. The conduits 56 and 58' are substantially aligned with the rotational axis of the rotating portion of knitting assembly 40 for smooth rotation thereby.

Lamp 54 consists of a lamp holder 226 threadably received on the second threaded portion 214 of retaining member 208. Lamp holder 226 is formed with an internal stepped chamber 228 which receives and retains a lamp socket 230, said socket being operatively coupled to electrical cables 108 and 110. Opening 232 is formed in lamp holder 226 to provide access to socket 230, bulb 234 projecting through said opening and being received within socket 230 in a conventional manner.

FIG. 5 depicts the region of the needles of knitting assembly 40 and illustrates one point at which air may be directed from lower rotary joint 52. As noted above, the knitting assembly includes a rotating dial 250 and a rotating cylinder 252. The upper surface 254 of dial 250 is formed with a plurality of spaced radial grooves in the surface thereof, a needle 256 riding in each of said grooves. Each needle 256 is formed with a projecting butt 258 which rides in a cam track in a fixed portion of the knitting assembly for the oscillatory displacement of needles 256 in the direction of doubleheaded arrow 260 as dial 250 rotates. Similarly, the

outer peripheral surface 262 of cylinder 252 is formed and riding in a corresponding cam track. Thus, needles 264' oscillate in the direction of double-headed arrow.

268'in response to the rotation of cylinder 252. It is the oscillatory displacement of needles 256 and 264 during the rotation of the dial and cylinder which performs the knitting operation to from the tube 42 of fabric. The

fabric is formed in region 270 and passes through conical channel 272 between the dial and the cylinder. While in channel 272, the tube of fabric 42 generally rests on surface 274 of cylinder 252.

As shown in FIG. 5, a flexible tubing 276, is mounted on air delivery pipe 206 to transmit air under pressure to nozzle fitting 278 mounted on bottom surface 280 of dial 250 by means of bolts 282. Nozzle fitting 278 is formed with an air passage 284 therethrough, which receives one end of a tubular connecting fitting 286 on which is mounted one end of flexible tubing 276. Air passage 284 is formed with a narrowed portion 285 angled to direct a stream of air under pressure through channel 272 to region 270. This stream of air serves to clean yarn carriers fixedly mounted near needles 256 and 264 and the region associated therewith. Since the knitted loops defining the tube of fabric 42 are at their most opened state in region 270, the air is forced between said loops to further drive the lint away from the needles and other parts.

If desired, the arrangement according to the invention may be provided with only a single lower rotary joint, and without the lamp 54 and signaling lamp 60 and associated structure. Additional rotary joints may be provided in accordance with the above teachings if desired.

It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above and those made apparent from the preceding description are efficiently attained, and since certain changes may be made in the above constructions without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained inthe above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for cleaning a knitting machine having a part rotatable about an axis comprising air conduit means fixedly mountable on said knitting machine in substantial alignment with the axis of rotation of said rotatable part; means for applying air under pressure to a first point on said conduit means; rotary joint means rotatably mounted on said conduit means at a second point spaced from said first point thereon, said rotary joint means being formed with an air passage therethrough leading from said air conduit means for directing air under pressure to portions of the knitting machine to be cleaned, said conduit means being formed with an opening in registration with said rotary joint air passage for the transfer of air under pressure from said conduit means to said air passage, said rotary joint means being axially displaceable along said conduit means in a direction away from said first point to an end thereof for removal therefrom retaining means for releasably positioning said rotary joint means at said second point and second rotary joint means rotatably mounted on said conduit means at a third point spaced from said second point in the direction of said first point, said second rotary joint means being formed with an air passage leading from said conduit means for directing air under pressure to further portions of the knitting machine to be cleaned, said air conduit means being formed with a second opening in registration with said second rotary joint means air passage for applying air under pressure from said air conduit means to said air passage.

2. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said conduit means is mountable so as to extend through said rotatable part, said first point thereon being located on one side of said rotatable part, said second point being located on the other side of said rotatable part.

3. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, including air sea] means at the interface between said first and second rotary joint means and said conduit means, one of said air seal means being positioned on each side of said opening in said conduit means, said first and second rojoint means and said rotatable part for rotatably driving tary joint means each including bearing means engaging the peripheral surface of said conduit means.

4. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, including means for interconnecting said first and second rotary said first and second rotary joint means in response to the rotation of said rotatable part.

5. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said air conduit means is mountable on said knitting machine so that it passes through said rotatable part, said first and third points on said conduit means being on one side of said rotatable part, said second point being on the other side of said rotatable part.

6. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said second point on said conduit means is positioned adjacent the end thereof, said retaining means including a flange projecting radially beyond the peripheral surface of said conduit means for preventing the axial displacement of said rotary joint means off said end of said conduit means, said conduit means including stop means spaced from said end thereof for preventing'the axial displacement of said rotary joint means away from said end thereof.

7. An apparatus for cleaning a knitting machine having a part rotatable about an axis comprising air conduit means fixedly mountable on said knitting machine in substantial alignment with the axis of rotation of said rotatable part; means for applying air under pressure to a first point on said conduit means; rotary joint means rotatably mounted on said conduit means at a second point spaced from said first point thereon, said rotary joint means being formed with an air passage therethrough leading from said air conduit means for directing air under pressure to portions of the knitting machine to be cleaned, said conduit means being formed with an opening in registration with said rotary joint means air passage for the transfer of air under pressure from said conduit means to said air passage, said conduit means being formed with an internal partition defining over at least a portion of its length a cable channel and an air passage separate from said cable channel, said opening in said conduit means providing communication to said conduit means air passage; and including lamp means mounted on said conduit means in communication with said cable channel and electrical cable means received within said cable channel and operatively coupled to said lamp means for the application of electrical power thereto.

8. An apparatus as recited in claim 7, wherein said lamp means is mounted at the end of said conduit means, said conduit means being mountable so as to extend through said rotatable part, said first point thereon being located on one side of said rotatable part, said second point being located on the other side of said rotatable part, said rotary joint means being axially displaceable along said conduit means in a direction away from said first point to said end for removal therefrom; and including retaining means for releasably positioning said rotary joint means at said second point, said lamp means being mounted on said retaining means for removal therewith.

9. An apparatus as recited in claim 7, wherein said conduit means is defined, over at least a portion of its length, by a pair of concentrically mounted pipe members, the inner pipe member defining said cable channel, the space intermediate said inner and outer pipe members defining said air passage.

10. An apparatus as recited in claim 7, including a further conduit means mounted on the other end of said first-mentioned conduit means and defining a further cable channel in communication with said firstmentioned cable channel; signal lamp means mounted on said further conduit means in communication with said further cable channel; and further electrical cable means passing through said further conduit means and operatively coupled to said signaling lamp means for actuation thereofv 11. An apparatus as recited in claim 10, including means for passing said first-mentioned and further electrical cable means into said first-metnionedcable channel and further cable channel respectively in the region of said first point on said conduit means.

12. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said air conduit means includes, in at least a portion of its length, a pair of coaxially mounted pipe members, the inner pipe member defining a cable channel, the space intermediate said inner and outer pipe members defining at least a portion of said air passage, the end of said inner pipe member in the region of said first point on said conduit means projecting beyond the end of said outer pipe members, said conduit means including an upper end tube member secured at one end to the peripheral surface of said inner pipe member and at the other end to the peripheral surface of said outer pipe member, said upper end tube member being formed with an axially bored portion of a diameter greater than the outer diameter of said inner pipe member for defining a further portion of said air passage and with a circumferential groove in the surface thereof in registration with said second rotary joint means air passage, said upper end tube member being formed with a stepped region in the peripheral surface thereof in regfirst point, said upper end tube member being further formed with an axially extending bore in the wall of the bored portion thereof interconnecting said circumferential air passage and said circumferential groove and with a radially extending opening interconnecting said circumferential air passage and the air passage defined by said bored portion thereof and said inner pipe portion.

13. An apparatus as recited in claim 9, wherein said conduit means includes a .lower end tube member mounted at one end to the end of said inner and outer tube members and having said retaining means and lamp means mounted at the other end thereof, said lower end tube member being formed with an axial istration with said first point on said conduit means and defining a circumferential air passage for receiving air under pressure from said means for applying air to said bore therethrough defining an extension of said cable channel and with a circumferential groove in the peripheral surface thereof defining said second point on said conduit means, said lower end tube member being further formed with an axially extending bore in the wall thereof providing communication between said conduit means air passage and said circumferential groove, said rotary joint means being mounted onsaid lower end tube member.

14. An apparatus as recited in claim 7, wherein said rotatable part includes a rotatable dial, a rotatable cylinder positioned relative to said dial so as to define a channel there-between for the passage of completed fabric, and a plurality of needles mounted on said dial and cylinder for the formation of said fabric; and including nozzle means mounted on the underside of said dial and formed with an outlet opening for directing air under pressure through the channel defined between said dial and cylinder to said needles, and means interconnecting said rotary joint means and said nozzle means for the application of air under pressure from said rotary joint means to said nozzle means. 

1. An apparatus for cleaning a knitting machine having a part rotatable about an axis comprising air conduit means fixedly mountable on said knitting machine in substantial alignment with the axis of rotation of said rotatable part; means for applying air under pressure to a first point on said conduit means; rotary joint means rotatably mounted on said conduit means at a second point spaced from said first point thereon, said rotary joint means being formed with an air passage therethrough leading from said air conduit means for Directing air under pressure to portions of the knitting machine to be cleaned, said conduit means being formed with an opening in registration with said rotary joint air passage for the transfer of air under pressure from said conduit means to said air passage, said rotary joint means being axially displaceable along said conduit means in a direction away from said first point to an end thereof for removal therefrom retaining means for releasably positioning said rotary joint means at said second point and second rotary joint means rotatably mounted on said conduit means at a third point spaced from said second point in the direction of said first point, said second rotary joint means being formed with an air passage leading from said conduit means for directing air under pressure to further portions of the knitting machine to be cleaned, said air conduit means being formed with a second opening in registration with said second rotary joint means air passage for applying air under pressure from said air conduit means to said air passage.
 2. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said conduit means is mountable so as to extend through said rotatable part, said first point thereon being located on one side of said rotatable part, said second point being located on the other side of said rotatable part.
 3. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, including air seal means at the interface between said first and second rotary joint means and said conduit means, one of said air seal means being positioned on each side of said opening in said conduit means, said first and second rotary joint means each including bearing means engaging the peripheral surface of said conduit means.
 4. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, including means for interconnecting said first and second rotary joint means and said rotatable part for rotatably driving said first and second rotary joint means in response to the rotation of said rotatable part.
 5. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said air conduit means is mountable on said knitting machine so that it passes through said rotatable part, said first and third points on said conduit means being on one side of said rotatable part, said second point being on the other side of said rotatable part.
 6. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said second point on said conduit means is positioned adjacent the end thereof, said retaining means including a flange projecting radially beyond the peripheral surface of said conduit means for preventing the axial displacement of said rotary joint means off said end of said conduit means, said conduit means including stop means spaced from said end thereof for preventing the axial displacement of said rotary joint means away from said end thereof.
 7. An apparatus for cleaning a knitting machine having a part rotatable about an axis comprising air conduit means fixedly mountable on said knitting machine in substantial alignment with the axis of rotation of said rotatable part; means for applying air under pressure to a first point on said conduit means; rotary joint means rotatably mounted on said conduit means at a second point spaced from said first point thereon, said rotary joint means being formed with an air passage therethrough leading from said air conduit means for directing air under pressure to portions of the knitting machine to be cleaned, said conduit means being formed with an opening in registration with said rotary joint means air passage for the transfer of air under pressure from said conduit means to said air passage, said conduit means being formed with an internal partition defining over at least a portion of its length a cable channel and an air passage separate from said cable channel, said opening in said conduit means providing communication to said conduit means air passage; and including lamp means mounted on said conduit means in communication with said cable channel and electrical cable means received within said cable channel and operatively coupled to said lAmp means for the application of electrical power thereto.
 8. An apparatus as recited in claim 7, wherein said lamp means is mounted at the end of said conduit means, said conduit means being mountable so as to extend through said rotatable part, said first point thereon being located on one side of said rotatable part, said second point being located on the other side of said rotatable part, said rotary joint means being axially displaceable along said conduit means in a direction away from said first point to said end for removal therefrom; and including retaining means for releasably positioning said rotary joint means at said second point, said lamp means being mounted on said retaining means for removal therewith.
 9. An apparatus as recited in claim 7, wherein said conduit means is defined, over at least a portion of its length, by a pair of concentrically mounted pipe members, the inner pipe member defining said cable channel, the space intermediate said inner and outer pipe members defining said air passage.
 10. An apparatus as recited in claim 7, including a further conduit means mounted on the other end of said first-mentioned conduit means and defining a further cable channel in communication with said first-mentioned cable channel; signal lamp means mounted on said further conduit means in communication with said further cable channel; and further electrical cable means passing through said further conduit means and operatively coupled to said signaling lamp means for actuation thereof.
 11. An apparatus as recited in claim 10, including means for passing said first-mentioned and further electrical cable means into said first-metnioned cable channel and further cable channel respectively in the region of said first point on said conduit means.
 12. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said air conduit means includes, in at least a portion of its length, a pair of coaxially mounted pipe members, the inner pipe member defining a cable channel, the space intermediate said inner and outer pipe members defining at least a portion of said air passage, the end of said inner pipe member in the region of said first point on said conduit means projecting beyond the end of said outer pipe members, said conduit means including an upper end tube member secured at one end to the peripheral surface of said inner pipe member and at the other end to the peripheral surface of said outer pipe member, said upper end tube member being formed with an axially bored portion of a diameter greater than the outer diameter of said inner pipe member for defining a further portion of said air passage and with a circumferential groove in the surface thereof in registration with said second rotary joint means air passage, said upper end tube member being formed with a stepped region in the peripheral surface thereof in registration with said first point on said conduit means and defining a circumferential air passage for receiving air under pressure from said means for applying air to said first point, said upper end tube member being further formed with an axially extending bore in the wall of the bored portion thereof interconnecting said circumferential air passage and said circumferential groove and with a radially extending opening interconnecting said circumferential air passage and the air passage defined by said bored portion thereof and said inner pipe portion.
 13. An apparatus as recited in claim 9, wherein said conduit means includes a lower end tube member mounted at one end to the end of said inner and outer tube members and having said retaining means and lamp means mounted at the other end thereof, said lower end tube member being formed with an axial bore therethrough defining an extension of said cable channel and with a circumferential groove in the peripheral surface thereof defining said second point on said conduit means, said lower end tube member being further formed with an axially extending bore in the wall thereof providing communication between said conDuit means air passage and said circumferential groove, said rotary joint means being mounted on said lower end tube member.
 14. An apparatus as recited in claim 7, wherein said rotatable part includes a rotatable dial, a rotatable cylinder positioned relative to said dial so as to define a channel there-between for the passage of completed fabric, and a plurality of needles mounted on said dial and cylinder for the formation of said fabric; and including nozzle means mounted on the underside of said dial and formed with an outlet opening for directing air under pressure through the channel defined between said dial and cylinder to said needles, and means interconnecting said rotary joint means and said nozzle means for the application of air under pressure from said rotary joint means to said nozzle means. 